A five-star hotel in Turkey is at the centre of controversy after staff members staged a prank that reminded guests of the recent Tunisia beach massacre.

Several men, allegedly dressed in Arab clothes, including army pants, stormed the pool area of the Grand Yazici Mares hotel in Icmeler, Turkey.

One [man] ran up to me with a bucket with 'fuel' written on the side. He threw it over me and got out a cigarette lighter... It was disgusting to try and make light of Tunisia in that way.

- Jason Phythian

After expressing their shock at the prank, the guests were informed it was part of a "Hollywood-themed poolside show".

"One [man] ran up to me with a bucket with 'fuel' written on the side. He threw it over me and got out a cigarette lighter," said Jason Phythian, 43, a hotel guest who was at the poolside when the staff members appeared, reported The Telegraph.

"It was disgusting to try and make light of Tunisia in that way."

The holiday agent, Jet2Holidays that Phythian had booked the vacation through, offered their regret in a statement that read: "We are sorry to hear about the distress experienced... This was a Hollywood themed poolside show, which included the characters Rambo and Superman, and it is always well-received by the hotel's residents."

Some 38 people, including 30 Britons, were reported killed on 26 June when an armed gunman attacked the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel at Port El Kantaoui north of Sousse, Tunisia.

Following the deadly massacre, the country's parliament voted to enforce a death penalty punishment for anyone found charged with terrorism.